Week of March 6, 2017

YOUTH ART MONTH

OPENING EXHIBIT THURSDAY

Youth Art Month highlights the wonderful and talented young artists at Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School. To help celebrate, MLWGS will be having its annual student art exhibition which opens Thursday, March 10 from 5:00-7:00 p.m. in the 2nd floor main hallway at Maggie Walker.   Comments will take place at 6:00 p.m.  Students enrolled in Photography and other Visual Arts classes will have their artwork exhibited in this exhibition.    The show will run through March and the opening is open to the public.  We hope that you will be able to attend.  Light refreshments will be provided by the Visual Arts Boosters.  

SPRING PARENT COACHES MEETING TONIGHT

The Spring Parent Coaches Meeting will meet tonight, March 7, 2017 in the auditorium at 6:15 p.m. This is a makeup date from March 1, 2017 and a change of site.

All coaches and parents of spring athletes, this is a mandatory meeting  for all information regarding your student athletes participation in Spring sports.  For more information contact  Paige Hawkins at phawkins@gsgis.k12.va.us

THE NIGHT OF THE DRAGON WAS A HUGE SUCCESS

The Night of the Dragon Committee would like to thank everyone who made the evening a wonderful success - all our donors, sponsors, volunteers, talented entertainment, and of course all those who attended! More than $55,000 was raised to support our school!

If any winners still have merchandise or certificates to pick up, you should have received an email over the weekend. Please have your student (or you) come by the Foundation Office to pick up your envelopes and / or items.

WALKER MODEL CONGRESS HOSTS GOVERNOR McAULIFFE

Walker Model Congress, hosted by the Model Congress Club of Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School. Walker Model Congress is a unique learning experience in which students model the United States’ legislative process. Students engage in meaningful debate on issues prevalent in our country today, draft their own legislation pertaining to modern issues, and debate in committee. Furthermore, by engaging in debate with their counterparts, students develop and refine their speaking skills and increase their abilities in quick thinking, reasoning, and teamwork.

WMC was held February 10-11, 2017, and featured Keynote Speaker Governor Terry McAuliffe. For the complete set of pictures, go to http://mlwgs.com/scenes-from-wmc-february-10-11-2017/

Congratulations to Sponsor Ted Quinn and the students of Model Congress Club!

FIND YOUR CALM

DESIGNATED QUIET SPACES
FOR STUDENTS AND TEACHERS

Want to step away from the rush and rumble of your busy day?  There are now two designated comfy spaces at MLWGS to take a break from noise and chatter....

·       The Mindfulness and Calm space for students (located in the Counseling suite) has groovy bean bag chairs, mindfulness coloring books, and more.  As an added touch, you’ll find a thoughtful quote on the board that a student writes there at the beginning of each day.

·       The Mindfulness and Calm space for teachers (236) has soft armchairs, mindfulness coloring books, and more.  There’s also a bookcase for a teacher book exchange. Just like the Little Free Libraries that have popped up around RVA, this is a free exchange: give one, take one.  Consider contributing a recently published book in great condition that you’d like to share.

To nurture calm, these rooms are intended as silent spaces, so please choose a different location for conversations. With quiet in mind, if you’d like to listen to music or audio recordings, please use earbuds or headphones (each room is equipped with headphones that you can borrow for this purpose).

If you’re interested in mindfulness-related recordings, you might choose a track from the library’s Mindfulness and Calm playlist on Soundcloud from your smartphone, tablet, or laptop, or check out one of the apps listed on the library’s Mindfulness and Calm page.

The Mindfulness Committee would like to thank Lisa Williams for her assistance in designing the teacher space and Troy Mitchell for painting two of the walls a serene blue.  Advanced thanks to the Art Honor Society who may be adding a mural to the student space by the end of the school year.

LAW QUALIFIES VIRGINIA OF POETRY OUT LOUD

Left to right:  Laney Yoo, Sarah Law

Congratulations go to Sarah Law (‘17, Chesterfield) for making it to the Virginia Finals of Poetry Out Loud. Sarah qualified by winning second place in the regional competition on February 6. First-place winner, Laney Yoo (St. Catherine’s), will also compete. The Virginia Commission for the Arts, in partnership with WCVE- Community Idea Stations, will host the state competition on Friday, March 10 at the WCVE studio. They will be recording the state championship. If Sarah wins, she will go on to Washington, DC in April for the final national event. Break a leg, Sarah!

FOR OTHER NEWS….

Check out the MLWGS News:  http://mlwgs.com/category/news/.

Peruse the latest issue of The Jabberwock:  https://mlwgsjabberwock.com/

Or, read the Director’s blog:  http://mlwgs.com/directors-blog/

Week of March 1, 2016

WANT TO GET THE WORD OUT?

Advertise in the Jabberwock,

Maggie Walker’s student-run newspaper!

Our student body is very diverse, and as informed consumers, it is interested in supporting local businesses. The Jabberwock reaches a wide audience; a print copy of the paper is published every other week, and is distributed free of charge to the school’s students, faculty, and staff. Additionally, a new website (http://www.mlwgsjabberwock.com) is updated regularly and visited by students, teachers, parents, and alumni.

There are several different types and sizes of advertisements available to purchase. Check out the options at http://bit.ly/1Pj4uNF, and purchase an advertisement here: http://bit.ly/1Nku6nw.

In advertising with the Jabberwock, you are not only making a good business decision but you are also supporting a program that offers students journalistic training and career options. With your support and business, the MLWGS school newspaper can continue to thrive and expand, both in print and online. If you have any questions, please contact Claire Mendelson, Editor-in-Chief, at cmendelson6@gmail.com.

MLWGS GRANDPARENTS' DAY, FRIDAY, APRIL 15

MLWGS grandparents and special friends of the family, including aunts, uncles, godparents, and neighbors, are invited to attend the fifth annual Grandparents' Day on Friday, April 15.  This popular event, sponsored by the Governor's School Foundation, will run from 2:00 – 3:45 p.m. All attendees will be invited to hear a presentation about the school, take a short tour of the building, and attend a reception with their grandchildren.

Please send in the names and addresses of student grandparents and special family friends, even if they may not be able to attend, so that the Foundation may send them a formal invitation. Click here to reach the registration form: http://goo.gl/forms/UZZIzUVpL5.

Feel free to contact the Foundation office at (804)354-1566 with any questions.  Or, write to us at: Events@GovernorsSchoolFoundation.org.

RICHMOND INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL (RIFF)

March 3-6

With more than 21 countries represented in festival submissions, the RIFF Official Selection consists of a diverse range of films (features and shorts), music videos, web series and screenplays of all genres -- all while providing a fun atmosphere for patrons and talent from around the globe.

This year’s festival will be held Thursday, March 3, 2016 at 11:00 a.m.  through Sunday, March 6, 2016 at 11:30 p.m.  at the The Byrd Theatre & Bow Tie Cinemas. For more information see

http://rvafilmfestival.com/2016-films/.

KOLOR ME KATIE 5K

The Kolor Me Katie 5K, in memory of Dragon Katie Anderson, is being held on May 21, 2016 at the Goochland YMCA. This year’s race benefits Connor’s Heroes Foundation and the Goochland YMCA Leaders’ Club. Last year’s inaugural race had around 300 runners and raised more than $7,000 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (last year’s beneficiary).

For more information about the upcoming race, please go to www.kolormekatie.com.

SPRING COACHES MEETING

Spring Coaches meeting will be at today, Tuesday, March 1, at 6:30 p.m. in the Forum on the 3^rd floor of the school.  This meeting will is mandatory for all Spring sports parents to meet the coaches and athletic trainer and states that all teams will be reviewing team rules and expectations.

RELEVANCE RISING STUDENTS WILL TRAVEL TO GUATEMALA

Will Provide Services to the Village of Tzununá

Relevance Rising (RR) is a class dedicated to the study of non-profit organizations and has been involved with an international service project for the community center and library of Tzununá, Guatemala for several years. Through this project, students learn to develop understanding and the skills necessary to interact with peoples of a different culture. In September 2015, the current class began fundraising with bake sales, coin drives, door decorating, salsa sales, etc., with all proceeds going to support the Tzununá library project. This year students will take with them in late March over $4,500 in donations. This marks the class’s fifth trip to the region and a total over the years of contributions of approximately $20,000 in monies and materials. Their donations have covered the cost of land to house the library, engineer and architect designs, building materials and various resources such as computers to be used by the children of the village. However, the project is still $10,000 short.

  

Trip expenses are funded by the MLWGS students themselves, along with the gracious help and support of the Governor’s School Foundation.

To contribute to this effort, donations can be made at gofundme.com/relevancerising16 or checks can be sent payable to MLWGS, Attention Stephanie Welles, 1000 N. Lombardy St., Richmond, VA  23220.

MLWGS DRAMA CLUB PRESENTS

URINETOWN, THE MUSICAL

March 3, 4 and 5 at 7:30 p.m.

Come out and enjoy this hysterical musical!  In a Gotham-like city, a terrible water shortage, caused by a 20-year drought, has led to a government-enforced ban on private toilets. The citizens must use public amenities, regulated by a single malevolent company that profits by charging admission for one of humanity's most basic needs. Amid the people, a hero decides he's had enough, and plans a revolution to lead them all to freedom! Tickets are $10 for students/$12 for adults and can be purchased at the door or online here: (http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2511397)

GSMUN XIX: WAKE THE NATIONS, MARCH 11-12, 2016

Maggie Walker’s 19th annual Model United Nations conference, GSMUN, will take place on March 11-12, 2016.  The event, consisting of 22 independent committees, expects to bring in delegates from 30+ schools across Virginia and Maryland.  Over 600 middle and high school students will debate policy issues ranging from the role of the aristocracy in 14th century Japan to the ethics of modern stem-cell research. 

GSMUN strives to promote awareness of international issues in our community.  Headed by a student Secretariat, GSMUN is also dedicated to raising money for global charities.  Model United Nations students from all grade levels participate in school fundraisers, culminating in conference donations and merchandise sales during the weekend of GSMUN.  This year, GSMUN XIX will raise money for One Hundred Pounds of Hope, an organization that provides education and emergency relief to the people of Cambodia.  Already, the students have coordinated three bake sales, candy gram sales, and a benefit concert featuring international cuisine and student performers. 

The theme of this year’s conference is Wake the Nations.  Much of the current leadership team has participated in Model UN all four years at Maggie Walker, and several even attended GSMUN as middle schoolers.  If you have any questions or would like to volunteer at the event, contact John Metz (gsmun.secgen@gmail.com) or Mr. Smith (msmith@gsgis.k12.va.us) for more details!

NEW PRODUCTS IN THE DRAGON’S LAIR!

The Dragon’s Lair would like to announce the arrival of four new products!  Please stop by the store to see these great items in person.  The Lair is open during lunch on Tuesdays and Fridays as well as the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of the month from 8 a.m.-9 a.m.  These Wednesday hours are intended to offer additional convenience for working parents to stop by on the way to work.  We hope to see you at the Lair soon!

• Power Bank                $15
• Thumb Drive               $6
• Crew Socks                $15
• Baseball Cap – GREEN  $12

SAVE THE DATE—PTSA MEETINGS

 Please “Save the Date” so that you are able to attend the upcoming General PTSA meeting at MLWGS.  PTSA meetings are open to parents of all students, but will be particularly beneficial for parents of Freshman and Sophomores.

• March 16 at 8:00 a.m. in the Auditorium (this may change) – Dr. Loving and Ms. Deck will provide an overview of the College prep and application process at MLWGS.